Cylinder lock



March 1, 1949. `T. w. FRlzzELL l 2,462,954

CYLINDER LOCK Filed Nov. 2e, 1947 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 V///////Y/// f 9 351 A 6 N .u Inventar- 45 42 /7 Ta/berr W. Fr/'zze/l E Attorneys Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CYLINDER LOCK Tolbert W. Frizzell, Big Springs, Tex.

Application November 26, 1947., Serial No. V'788,153

4 lClaims.

This invention relates to improvements in cyl- Cylinder locks are relatively old in the art, fand until recent years they have been regarded as substantially pick-proof. It has been found, however, vthat some of `the persons more skilled in the unauthorized opening of locks have experienced little diculty in opening, without the aid of a proper key, even the highest grade of cylinder lock, fine needles or picks being employed to move the individual tumblers in order that "the barrel may vbe revolved to perform its bolt operating function.

The primary obj-ect of the present invention is to provide an improved cylinder lock having a new combination of elements which render it virtually impossible to actuate without the proper key.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel cylinder lock having a lplurality of releasable elements, including a set of pin tumblers and a set of plate -tumblers, 'which must be actuated at the same instant to effect movements of the bolt.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved cylinder lock having a plurality of locking elements of different types, and whi-ch is simple and inexpensive in construction and reliable in operation.

The exa-ct nature of the present invention, as well as other objects and features thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with `the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure v1 is a central vertical longitudinal ,sectionalview of a cylinder lock constructed in accordance with `the present invention, the `Itumblers being in locking position;

Figure 2 is 'a view similar to Figure 1, showing a proper key inserted in the lock and the tumblers in released position;

:Figure 3 is -a transverse section taken on 'line 3-1-3 of Figure 1;

-Figure 4 vis a transverse 'section .taken online 4-4 of Figure l2;

Figure 5 is 'la `horitontal section Vrtaken on line y5---5 oflFigure 3;

Figure 6 a horizontal section taken on line 6--1'6 `ofliigure 4;

lFigure 'l is a `transverse section taken on line l-lof Figure 1;and

Figure 8 isla transverse section 'taken online 848; of Figure `1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a cylindrical casing 5 lprovided with a key hole slot 6 at the front and with a cylindrical chamber 1 which is open at its inner end. A cylindrical barrel 8 is rotatably tted in the chamber 1., and it is provided with a longitudinal keyhole 9 in line with the keyhole slot 6 of the casing.

A set of spaced plate or `wafer tumblers I0 is carried by and slidable transversely of the barrel, and normally engaged with'the casing to prevent turning of said barrel. As shown, 'the plate ltumblers I0 are slidablytted in transverse slots I'I of the barrel, and they are yieldingly urged in one direction by means of helical compression springs I2'. At one end, each plate tumbler I0 is provided with :a .projecting lug .I3 larranged to engage in 'a `-longitudinal groove I4 provided in one side of the wall of chamber 1. The plate `tumblers `lEl have 'keyhole slots l5 therein which are normally registered with the keyhole 9 of `the barrel and which are provided at corresponding ends with lateral enlargements I6, whereby to partially 'closesaid keyhole and ,provide clear- .ance for the sh-ank `I1 of a key inserted inthe latter, when the tumblers are disengaged from `the 4casing as shown more clearly in Figure 4.

A key actuated member I8, of substanti-ally U- shape in plan as shown in Figures 5 and 6, is carried by the casing and movable rearwardly to simultaneously disengag-e the plate tumblers I0 from the casing. The member I8 has a part I9 which extends across the keyhole 9 and is disposed behind the barrel 8 for engagement by the inner end of :the inserted key as sh-ownin Figures 2 and ,6. The member I8 further includes aleg 2slidable in the groove I4 -of the casing and provided with a. series of camlugs 2| engageable with the lugs I3 of the plate tumblers I0 for moving the latter to released position uponv rearward movement of said member I8. The member I8 has another leg 22 .movable in a further lon- -gitudinal groove "23 provided inthe opposite side lofthe wall of chamber 1 from thatin which the groove Misprovided. Within the groove 23, the casing 5 has an abutment 24 through which the reduced end 25 :of 'leg 22 extends. At its terminal, the reduced end 25 of leg`22 is provided with across pin 2G or thelike, and .a helical compression spring 21 is .placed on the end 25 between the -abutments 24 and 26 so as to movethemember I8 forwardly tothe normal position of Figures 1 and 5, whereinthe lugs I3 of tumbler plates I0 may enter the lspaces between .the cam lugs 2|, thus allowing said `tumbler plates I0 t-o be normally moved to the locking position of Figur-e 3 -by the springs l2. At its inner end, the leg 22 is widened to provide a locking lug 28 normally engaged in a notch 29 provided peripherally of and in the inner end of barrel 8, so that the member I8 normally acts to lock the barrel against rotation. The arrangement is such that when the member i3 is moved Ito the tumbler releasing position of Figure 6, the lug 28 is disengaged from the r-ecess 29 so as to free the barrel 8 as shown in Figure 6.

The casing includes a front part composed of a face plate 30 and three discs 3|, 32 and 33, Y

and a larger rear part 34 having an opening which forms the chamber The discs 3| and 33 have keyhole slots 35 similar to and registered with the keyhole slot 6 of the face plate 3B', and the intermediate disc 32 is provided with a relatively large opening 36 as more clearly shown in Figure 7, which communicates at one side with the groove i4 as indicated at 31. Slidable transversely in the opening 3B is a keyhole guard plate 38 that is normally moved in one direction by a, spring 39 and in the opposite direction by a further cam lug 40 provided on the forward end of the leg 2|! of member i8 when ythe latter is moved rearwardly. The guard plate 38 has a keyhole slot 4| therein which is nor- .mally registered with the keyhole slot of disc 32 as shown in Figure 7, and which is provided at one end with a lateral enlargement 42, whereby to partially close the keyhole slot 35 and provide clearance for the shank Il of the key when said guard plate 3B is shifted against the action of the spring 39 upon rearward movement of member I8.

The parts 33, 3|, 32, 33 and 34 are rigidly secured in contigous relation by means of longitudinal tie bolts 43, and nuts 44 threaded on the inner ends thereof at the back of part 34, said tie bolts being fixed to the face plate 30 and extending through aligned apertures or openings in the parts 3|, 32, 33 and 34. A suitable bolt operating member 45 is rigid with and provided on the inner end of the barrel 8.

The present lock also includes a conventional pin tumbler arrangement which constitutes the primary locking means of the lock. As shown, the barrel 8 is provided with a plurality of vertical apertures 46 extending from the surface thereof to the keyhole 9 and slidably receiving the tumbler pins 4l. The casing `member 34 is providedwith vertical apertures 48 aligned with the apertures 4B in the barrel, and a plurality of driver pins 43 are slidable in the apertures 48.

The driver pins 49 are normally positioned in both lapertures 4E and 48 by means of coil springs 5U disposed in the apertures 48 outwardly of the pins 49 and held in place by a plate 5| slidably engaged in an undercut groove 52 provided in the outer surface of and extending longitudinally of the casing member 34.

As shown in Figure 2, the proper key for the present lock has its shank I1 provided with a plurality of spaced lateral tumbler pin releasing lugs 53 of differing lengths to accord with the differing lengths ofthe tumbler pins 4l whereby, upon insertionof the key for actuation of member I8 as shown in Figure 2, the lugs 53 will shift the tumbler pins 41 so that the outer ends of the latter and the inner ends of the pins 49 are flush' with the surfaces of the barrel 8 and casing member'34, respectively. Obviously, with the plate tumblers Hl and the pin tumblers 41 thus released, and the lug 28 of member |8 moved out of the notch 29 of the barrel, the latter may be rotated for throwing the bolt, not shown. It will be seen that the plates and 38 alternate with the pin tumblers 41. Thus, when the barrel 8 is unlocked, the plates and 38 will be caused to partially close the keyhole 9 and the keyhole slot 35 of casing member 3|. Accordingly, should a pick be inserted so as to actuate the member I8 for releasing the tumbler plates Hl, the latter and the guard plate 38 will so,4 restrict the keyhole 9 and keyhole' slot 35'of casing member 3| that insufficient room will be left for the insertion of additional picks to individually release the pin tumblers 4l. It will thus be apparent that it will be virtually impossible to release the barrel without the proper key. By providing the member |8 for releasing the plate tumblers I0, the' construction of the key is simplified, because it is not necessary to provide such key with individual actuating elements for the plate tumblers.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modifications and changes in details of construction are contemplated, such as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus ydescribed the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. In a cylinder lock, a casing provided with a. keyhole slot at the front and with a cylindrical chamber which is open at its inner end, a cylindrical barrel provided with a longitudinal keyhole in line with the keyhole slot of the casing, said barrel being rotatably fitted in said chamber, spaced spring pressed plate tumbers carried by and slidable transversely of the barrel and normally engaged with the casing to prevent turning of the barrel, said tumblers having keyhole slots therein normally registered with the keyhole of the barrel and provided at corresponding ends with lateral enlargements whereby to partially close said keyhole and provide clearance for the shank of a key inserted in the latter when the tumblers are disengaged from the casing, a key actuated member carried by the casing and movable rearwardly to simultaneously disengage the tumblers from the casing, said member having a part extending across the keyhole of and disposed behind the barrel for engagement by the inner end of the inserted key, and a spring acting to move said member forwardly so as to permit the tumblers to engage the casing when the key is removed from the keyhole. I

2. In a cylinder lock, a casing provided with a keyhole slot at the front vand with a cylindrical chamber which is 'open at its inner end, a cylindrical barrel provided with a longitudinal keyhole in line with'the keyhole slot of the casing. said barrel being rotatably tted in said chamber, spaced spring pressed plate tumblers carried by and slidable transversely of the barrel and normally engaged with the casing to prevent turning of the barrel, said tumblers having keyhole slots therein normally registered with the keyhole of the barrel and provided at corresponding ends with lateral enlargments whereby to partially close said keyhole and provide clearance for the shank of a key inserted in the latter when the tumblers are disengaged from the casing, a spring pressed keyhole guard plate mounted within and slidable transversely of the casing in front of said chamber and having a keyhole slot therein normally registered with the 5 i keyhole slot ofthe casing and provided at one end with a lateral enlargement whereby to partially close said keyhole slot of the casing and provide clearance for the shank of a key inserted in the latter when shifted against the action of its spring, a key actuated member carried by the casing and movable rearwardly to simultaneously shift the guard plate and disengage the tumblers from the casing, said member having a part extending across the keyhole of and disposed behind the barrel for engagement by the inner end of the said key, and a spring acting to move said member forwardly so as to permit the tumblers and the guard plate to return to normal position when the key is removed from the keyhole.

3. A Icylinder lock including a casing, a barrel rotatably tted therein, a set of plate tumblers and a set of pin tumblers normally looking the barrel against rotation, said plate tumblers alternating with the pin tumblers and movable in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the latter, and a key actuated member carried by the casing and movable rearwardly to simultaneously disengage the plate tumblers from the casing, said plate tumblers having key hole slots therein normally registered with the keyhole of the barrel and provided at corresponding'ends with lateral enlargements whereby to partially close said keyhole and provide clearance for the shank of a key inserted in the latter 3 when the plate tumblers are disengaged from the casing.

4. In a cylinder lock, a casing, a barrel rotat ably tted therein and having a keyhole, said casing having a keyhole slot in front of the barrel, plate tumblers slidable transversely of the barrel and normally engagingthe casing to lock the barrel against rotation, a keyhole guard plate sidable transversely of the casingin front of the barrel, said plate tumblers and said guard plate having keyhole slots therein normally reg` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,455,577 Epstein May 15, 1923 1,702,488

Baird Feb. 19, 1929 

